By Georgina Cornago, May 2025
Here we are—right in the heart of Food Allergy Awareness Month. A month that always hits differently for those of us deeply immersed in this work. My calendar gets jam-packed with advocacy: Awareness Day in Albany, interviews, meetings with legislators, and double-time on social media. But beyond the busyness, it’s also a time of deep reflection—on what food allergies truly mean, how far we’ve come, and how much more there is to do.
And of course, I always come back to my why.
I can’t lie—my “why” kicks my ass some days. The weight of it, the grief of it, the guilt of it. My son Giovanni’s life was taken because of a terrible labeling oversight. The package didn’t say “may contain,” so I assumed it was safe. That assumption cost us everything. It’s a guilt I will carry for life—but it’s also the fire that fuels me to keep pushing harder. Because clearer, more transparent food labeling could have saved him. And it can save others.
This month, in the midst of the chaos and the memories, something unexpected and incredibly humbling happened. I got a phone call inviting me to be part of the MenuTrinfo® Allergy Advisory Council, supporting their Certified Free From™ (CFF) program. I didn’t even let her finish the sentence before I said YES.
For years, I’ve poured my heart into support groups, educational efforts, legislative advocacy, and awareness through social media. But this—this feels like the beginning of something new. A deeper level of impact. A platform to help shape the kind of change I’ve been fighting for since day one.
Today, we had our kickoff Zoom meeting—and to be honest, I had to hold back tears more than once. Listening to the incredible people on the council, learning more about MenuTrinfo and their mission, I had one of those rare full-circle moments. From a place of unimaginable grief and loss… to being part of a company whose entire focus is food allergy safety, training, and helping manufacturers achieve one of the only certifications that truly matters in this space? It was overwhelming—in the best way.
To everyone at MenuTrinfo® and the Certified Free From™ team: thank you for welcoming me. Thank you for understanding that behind every food allergy statistic is a story—and for letting Giovanni’s story help drive real change.
My heart is full. My purpose is renewed. And the work is far from over.
Click here to stay connected through our Love for Giovanni Facebook support group and here to show your support with a PayPal donation.
